Nope, you can’t see the height of the stairs: they spiral around. And you can’t tell how deep underground you are, either.

LaSargenta

I’m one of “those” who has taken the stairs there and would again as long as I have the time. Not to show off, just to get some exercise and not be in an elevator. And I definitely use them to go down!

(I do this at the 190th ststion on the A, too, in NYC. Otoh, I generally take the escalator @ 63rd on the F, walking up. “On your left!”)